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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Med.
Sec. Healthcare Professions Education
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1404741

Developing Leadership Competencies for Genomics Integration through Globally Networked Learning and Education

Provisionally accepted
Jacqueline Limoges Jacqueline Limoges 1Arja Halkoaho Arja Halkoaho 2*Mari Laaksonen Mari Laaksonen 2Muskaan Karwal Muskaan Karwal 1
  • 1 Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
  • 2 Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Tampere, Finland

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Aim: To describe the implementation and evaluation of an education strategy called the Globally Networked Learning – Genomics (GNL-G) used in Master’s courses in Canada and Finland. The study focused on the feasibility and effectiveness of GNL-G in developing leadership competencies for integrating genomics into practice. Methods: Interpretive description qualitative methodology was used to explore how GNL-G, global exchanges and assignments standardized with the Assessment of Strategies to Integrate Genomics in Nursing (ASIGN) tool influenced competency development. The Reporting Item Standards for Education and its Evaluation in Genomics (RISE2 Genomics) framework guided the design, implementation, evaluation, and reporting of GNL-G. Data included one-to-one interviews, written assignments, and reflections. Results: Interviews and assignment data from three cohorts of students for a total of ten Canadian and 11 Finnish master’s students participated in this study. The ASIGN Tool played a crucial role in facilitating students' analysis of their practice context and the development of leadership strategies. Participation in GNL-G enhanced students' confidence to lead efforts to integrate genomics, irrespective of their genomics expertise. Engagement with global peers emphasized the importance of incorporating equity, ethics, and social justice into leadership strategies for genomics integration. Conclusion: The GNL-G strategy enhanced leadership competencies for genomics integration in graduate students from Canada and Finland. The ASIGN Tool and global peer collaboration highlight the importance of innovative educational methods in preparing leaders for the complexities of genomics in healthcare.

    Keywords: genomics1, nurses2, leadership3, competencies4, education5

    Received: 21 Mar 2024; Accepted: 29 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Limoges, Halkoaho, Laaksonen and Karwal. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Arja Halkoaho, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Tampere, Finland

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.